Vacuum seal



Nov. 27, 1928.

w. P. FEENEY VACUUM SEAL Filed Nov. 1927 Elvwemtoz v m Vw/l'am feneu a Gwen W1 0 Patented Nov. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES WILLIAM P. FEENEY, or CHEBOYGAN, MICHIGAN.

VACUUM SEAL.

Application filed November 1, 1927. Serial No. 280,377.

The present invention relates to paper making machines and more particularly to a cleaning device for reconditioning the felt carriers employed in certain types of paper making machines, The cleaning device is an improvement upon the suction cleaner described in my Patent No. 1,635,317, dated July 12, 1927, and is intended to eliminate certain difficulties arising in the operation of suction cleaners for felts.

The cleaning device described in my Patent No. 1,635,317 comprises a tube provided with i an elongated slot over which the felt is drawn,

the tube communicating witha suitable pump for creating a vacuum within the tube. It has been observed, however, that, due to the large amount of air drawn through the slot, much power is consumed in operating the pumps. The slot is relatively wide to cause flexing of the felt and for this reason narrowing of the slot is undesirable.

It is an object of the present invention to provide means for-restricting the flow of air through the slot in the suction tube of the cleaning device without diminishing the effective degree of vacuum Within the tube. It is another object of the invention to provide means which, in addition to restricting the flow of air through the slot referred to, will tend to distort the felt, thus insuring proper cleaning of the pulp carrier.

The invention will be more fully understood from the following description of the apparatus taken in connection with accompanying drawing which illustrates only the essential parts of the cleaning device and in which:

Figure 1 is a partial front elevation of one end of the suction cleaner, and

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of Figure 1.

It will be understood that the felt 10 carries the paper pulp over rollers, this operation being fully described in my prior patent referred to above and forming no part of the present invention. It will also be understood that the tubes 49 and 51 communicating with each other through a connection 52, are connected to a suitable pump for creating a suction effect at the slot 54, this construction being identical with that described in my prior patent. The tube 51 is adapted to be pivoted about bearings (not shown) to be brought into effective position when desired.

Disposed above the effective position of the suction pipe 51, and preferably pivoted on a shaft 11 is a clamping bracket which, as

secured to each other by that a simila-r bracket is provided for supporting the other end of the tube 17 and, if desired, other brackets may be provided for supporting the tube 17 at intermediate positions. I

lVithin the tube 17 is drical member or seal 19, the purpose of which is to restrict the flow-of air through the slot 54. As shown in Fig. 2, the sealing member 19, which has a length corresponding substantially to the length of the tube'51, has a diametersomewhat larger than the width of either of the slots 18 or 54. Its'diameter is less than that of the tube 17 so that it is adapted to roll within the latter tube. This diameter of the seal is determined to some extent by the flexing of the felt as it passes over the slot 54, but its effective diameter is largely a matter of design. The edges of the slot 18 hold the seal within the bracket but are spaced sufliciently far apart to permit the seal to project beyond the edges of the slot. The seal is preferably made of rubber, being either a relatively solid member having a certain degree of elasticity and flexibility or it may be a hollow member designed to be inflated. The material from which the seal is made may, however, be any suitable material which will be drawn toward the slot 54 by the sucking action of the cleaning device.

In the operation of the apparatus the felt 10 will be drawn into the slot 54 as it passes over the cleaner. Air is drawn through the felt to clean and dry the carrier. Since the interstices in the felt are often relatively large a needless amount of air is drawn through and a corresponding loss of power results from the necessity of operating the suction pump tothe capacity necessary to maintain the proper degree of vacuum within the suction tube. If such a condition exists it is only necessary to move the seal into position to restrict the flow of air through the felt. The degree of vacuum at the slot 54 is maintained, however, so that the liquid content of the felt is withdrawn through the felt at the placed a hollow cylinprovided with an intake aperture,

1. In an apparatus of the class described,

a pulp carrier, a suction device for inducing a draft through saidcarrier, said device being and means in alignment with adapted to be positioned the draft through said aperture to restrict said carrier.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a pulp carrier, a suction device for inducing a draft through said carrier, said device being provided with an intake aperture, and means adapted to be positioned in alignment with said- "aperture to restrict the draft through said carrier, said means and said intake being positioned relatively to each other to permit said carrier to be interposed between said means and said intake.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a pulp carriena suction device for inducing a draft through'said carrier, said suction device being provided with an intake aperture over which said carrier is drawn, and means adapted to contact said carrierand align with said aperture to restrict the draft through said carrier.

rovided with an intake aperture over which said carrier is drawn, and a flexible sealing member adapted to contact said carrier and align with said intake to restrict the draft through said carrier. 1

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a pulp carrier, a suction device for inducing a draft through said carrier, said suction-device being provided with an intake aperture over'which said carrier is drawn, a sealing member, and means for moving said member into alignment with said intake to restrict the draft through said carrier.

6. In an apparatus of the class described,

a pulp -carrier, a suction device for inducing a draft through said carrier, said suction device being provided wit-hanintake aperture over which said carrier is drawn, a sealing member, and a pivoted bracket for supporting said sealing member, said bracket being adapted to be moved towards said suction de vice to align the sealing member with said aperture and restrict the draft through said carrier. is r In testimony whereof, I have signed my name tothis specification this lit'h day of October, 1927.

P. FEE EY, 

